Toothpick-holder.



F. IVI. C. USHEH.

TOOTHPIK HOLDER.

APPLscATloN FILED ocT.13, 19H.

Patontd Jau. 14, 1919.

ToorrrrIcK-rronnnia.

Application filed October 13, 1917.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that i, FRANCIS M. C. UsHnR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Slocum, in lthe county of Westchester and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful improvements inToothpicl-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toothpick holders, and has for its object theproduction of a container for toothpicks of relatively small size, butwhich may have a variety of forms, the holder being usually of tubularshape, provided with a removable cap at one end and having a clampingscrew cap at the other end. The removable cap covers the open end of thetubular body of the holder, and the other end of the holder ispermanently closed, and may be made tapering for a distan-ce. Theclamping screw-cap is provided with an l.-shaped slot in its side andend by means of which a toothpiek may be clamped to the end of the bodytube, either at right angles with the body or lengthwise parallel withthe body tube, which, in either case, acts as the handle by means ofwhich the toothpick may be used upon the teeth.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction and arrangement ofthe parts oi this invention. Figure 1 is a side view with both end capsscrewed up. Tn this condition the holder is carried in the pocket.Figure 2 is a vertical section through the slot in the clamping screwcap and also through the body tube `and cap bil closure for the openupper end of the tube. Fig. 3 is a side View of the tap closure for theopen end of the tubular body of the holder. Fig. 4 is a side view of thebody tube by itself, showing the positions of the screw threads withwhich it is provided. Fig. 5 is a plan view of one form of toothpick.Fig. 6 is a side view of this invention, the lower portion being shownin section, and a toothpick being clamped in place and projecting atright angles with the body tube. Fig. 7 is a like side view of thisinvention with the lower portion of the clamping screw cap shown insection, and illustrating a toothpicl clamped in position parallel withthe axis oi' the body tube. Fig. 8 is a vertical section. of theclamping screw cap.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dan.. ist, 1919 Sera1No.196,3/5.

Throughout the drawings and this description the same letter is used torefer to the same part.

Considering the drawings, the screw cap a, shown in vertical section inFig. 3, covers the open end of the body tube 2'). The body tubeconstitutes the container for the toothlpicks, as will be readilyunderstood.

At the upper end the body tube has the screw threads c, which engage thecap a. At a distance from the other end of the body tube it is`encircled by the screw threads d, and these lower threads are engaged bythe clamping screw cap e.

It will be noted, in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, that the clamping screw cap hasan Lshaped slot f through its side and closed end, and this slot will beagain mentioned.

Below the encircling threads d, the body tube b may be tapered, thetapering end portion being referred to by the letter g.

The toothpicks may be of any chosen form, one form being illustrated inFig. 5, marked 7L. This invention is not limited 'to any form oftoothpick, neither does it concern the material, whether wood,composition, or metal, of which the toothpicks may be composed. Fig. 5sets out a convenient form for use with this invention.

ln operation. the clamping1 screw cap e is unscrewed slightly, and theend of a toothpick 7L passed tl'irough the slot f between the end of thelower portion g of the tube o, and the inside of the closed end of vtheclamping screw cap e, which may now be screwed up holding 'the toothpickfirmly projecting at right angles with the axis of the body tube.

To cause the projection of the toothpick .lengthwise parallel with theaxis of the body tube, the end of the toothpick is passed upwardlythrough the slot between the tapering end g of the body tube and theinside of the clamping screw cap. The cap being qscrewed up, thetoothpick is firmly held in position as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Having now explained 'this invention with regard to its construction andthe mode of using it, I claim l. Tn a toothpick holder, the combinationwith a body portion, of a clamping cap engaging one end of the saidbody, the said clamping can having a closed end and a slot in its sidewhereby a toothpiclr. may be:-

clamped upon the end of 'the said body and project at right angles Withthe axis of the ody.

2. In a toothpick holder, the combination With a body portion, of aclamping cap en* gaging one end of the body, the end of the body engagedby the said cap having a portion less in diameter than the interior ofthe cap, and the cap having a slot at its end whereby a toothpicl may bepassed through the slot in the cap and clamped by the cap against thesaid end portion of the body of less diameter than the interior of thecap causing the toothpick to project parallel With the axis .of the saidbody.

3. In a toothpick holder, the combination with a body portion, of aclamping cap engaging the end of the body, the end of the body thusengaged by the cap having a portion less in 4diameter than the interiorof the said cap, the said oap having a slot through its end and sidewhereby a toothpiek may be clamped to the said body at right angles orparallel with the axis of the body.

el. In a toothpick holder, the combination with a body portion having athreaded portion near one end and an Unthreaded por* tion lying betweenthe said threaded por tion and the extremity oi the holder, a screw capengaging the said threaded portion and covering the end of the body, thesaid unthreaded portion of the end of the body having a portion less indiameter than the interior of the said screw cap, and the I may beclamped to the end of the said body f portion at an angle with the axisof the body.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

FRANCIS M. C. USHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

